An Association of Local Baptist Churches: Why do we do that?
By Associating/partnering with other local, Baptist churches, we are…
Supporting Churches of the ACBA: By supporting Pastors, Building Relationships, Discovering Church and Community concerns, and Prayer.
Visiting Churches: To better understand each church (and community it serves) of the ACBA, the Director visits the various churches of the association. These experiences are richly rewarding, as he sees first-hand what the Spirit of God is doing in each of the ACBA churches. Pastors and churches generally are appreciative of our worshipping with them, and we enjoy getting better acquainted with pastors, their family, and the church fellowship – on “their turf.” These experiences are encouraging, and better position the Director to know about various church strengths, needs, and concerns, to which he might respond as appropriate.
Ministry Teams: Having become better acquainted with ACBA churches, last year we established the Church Health and Revitalization Team, to ask pastors (of mostly smaller congregations) what issues and concerns they faced. In response, we have planned informational and discussion-oriented meetings to address needs they have expressed to us. The first was Addressing the Rising Cost of Church Ministry, attended by 14 pastors, including bi-vocational pastors.
The ACBA Prayer Calendar, contained in our monthly newsletter, The Key, which is mailed to about 600, is an intercessory prayer ministry for churches and ministries of the Association. While pastor of a local associational partner church, I (Larry) experienced firsthand the impact of this ministry:
While on the ACBA Prayer Calendar for a particular week, prayer of the Association kept me from making a well-intentioned, but ill-advised decision. After the Spirit of God changed my mind about resigning from the church as bi-vocational Pastor (on the Sunday morning I’d planned to resign, during the invitation!), I subsequently discovered that the church had been on the ACBA Prayer Calendar for that week. I stayed another 13 years, became their full-time pastor – and was privileged to experience the amazing work of the Lord for His mission! I remain grateful for and committed to this ministry of intercessory prayer of the Association.
Pastors Prayer Breakfast: meeting once a month (except in the Summer), this is a time for fellowship, prayer, updates, and encouragement for ACBA Pastors.
Pastor to Pastor: Pastors gather once or twice a month to review and visit about a particular topic of interest, and to be reminded that there are others who understand and share their joys and concerns.
Ministers Wives Fellowship: this fellowship is a “sweet time” for wives (expressed by an attendee), and a time to share, laugh, weep, pray, and just be together – with other ladies who have similar experiences.
Pulpit Supply Ministry: located on our website (https://www.acbaptists.org/) there is a listing of local preachers (about 20) available for supply preaching and interim ministry. This simple listing is a valuable help for pastors needing to be out for a weekend but may not have staff or know of someone who might preach for them; and the listing provides opportunities for men called to preach to be active as they are called upon.
Supporting Churches Through Communication
The ACBA office is ‘an information hub’ for the 60+ churches of the Association– we receive and pass along announcements, alerts, and information about upcoming events/opportunities. This communication may take place via monthly newsletter, word of mouth, email, texting, or all these communication methods.
The Key: Our monthly newsletter. Along with an article from the Director of Missions, there are many announcements and alerts included. Birthdays and church anniversaries are listed for each month, along with announcements about upcoming fellowships, meetings, and conferences (local, state and even national). Our monthly Prayer Calendar is listed, along with alerts about ministries, concerts, contact information for ACBA leadership, and church staff vacancies. I frequently receive words of appreciation and affirmation from recipients of The Key.
A few years ago, one of our larger churches invited other ACBA churches to attend an Evangelism Training event which they were hosting for their church – we communicated the invitation to member churches. A Pastor and a handful of congregants from a smaller congregation attended, and the Pastor of the smaller congregation later reported that the event “changed the church,” that their church is committed to meeting every family in their community.
·Website: https://www.acbaptists.org/ Our website has information, links, and videos for the various ministries supported by the ACBA. There is also a special page where interested individuals/groups can learn more about volunteering to serve in these and other local mission efforts (https://www.acbaptists.org/serve) – expanding the ministry reach of their church.
The website also posts church staff vacancies for area churches, a listing of ACBA churches with links to their websites, the ACBA Prayer Calendar, and other useful information.
Supporting Participation in Local Mission efforts
· Over the years, various individuals and groups have responded to heart-felt burdens to address needs of particular segments of our local population, and the Association has responded to these expressed burdens to cooperatively help organize and support such mission efforts.
Christian Job Corps of Abilene for Women and Men: it is an honor to assist our Director, Sharon Maurer, Men’s leader Bob Cheatheam, and the Board of Directors in this ministry to women and men. CWJC assists participants with the skills to become independent: job skills, personal skills, discipleship skills. Each woman is paired with a mentor and prayer partner, and volunteers provide meals, along with generous donations from the Mary Hill Davis Offering for State Missions.
The Association makes monthly contributions from the ACBA budget to support the Christian Women’s and Men’s Job Corps, and disperses a portion of the Annual LL Trott Offering for Associational Missions to these impactful ministry.
HOPE CAMP: each year the ACBA promotes and funds a 3-day Christian camp at Big Country Baptist Assembly (Lueders). This year we had to limit campers to about 25 participants, because of a lack of camp sponsors for the kids = the ratio of sponsors to campers is very limited, and some sponsors had to back out of camp. Offerings to support this camp comes entirely from the fundraising efforts and promotion provided by the ACBA. The weekend of Hope Camp is designed to reach good kids who might live in difficult circumstances, and experience and learn about the love of God and of God’s people, and about God’s plan and purposes for their lives = offering them Hope.
HOPE CAMP GOLF TOURNAMENT: each year the ACBA sponsors a golf tournament to help fund Hope Camp. Plans are being made to adapt the tournament to a different location, with increased promotion and expanded of the awareness of the ministry offered by Hope Camp, and the kids it impacts.
A couple of years ago, before COVID, we had 4 siblings (their mother is a divorced, single, working mom) who’d stop by the ACBA office on weekdays about 4pm, on their walk home from school. We’d offering them water and a snack. When they first began coming by, one of the kids asked, “Is it too early to sign up for Hope Camp?” He had attended HC, and wanted to take his brother and sister. I visited Hope Camp in 2021, and these 3 siblings were campers that year (the 4th was too young).
The Association promotes, raises funds, and entirely funds Hope Camp each year. There is a designated account for Hope Camp, in which offerings are placed from individuals, churches, Sunday School classes, businesses, and fundraisers.
Abilene Baptist Association Social Ministries: Providing food for the economically distressed. Additionally, ABA SM began a homebound delivery of food for those needing assistance but were unable to travel to the ministry location. Volunteering to help out one day, I was able to see some of this ministry’s impact upon individuals and families.
The Association sends monthly support for Social Ministries, and a portion of the LL Trott Offering for Associational Missions is directed to this ministry.
The Director of Missions is a member of the Board of Directors of ABA Social Ministries.
ACBA Disciple Now Weekend: Hosting a DNow weekend is difficult for smaller congregations; however, through cooperation smaller ACBA churches can ‘plug in’ to a well done DNow event, hosted by one of our larger congregations. Many of our smaller congregations are located in neighborhoods/areas which are economically depressed, with various challenges. Many of the ACBA’s smaller churches are placed in these areas. Churches offering a special weekend for teens, especially those in the depressed areas of town, provides an outreach and evangelistic opportunities to families who might not have a church home, and provides another avenue for our smaller congregations to connect with teens and families in their neighborhoods.
The ACBA maintains a designed fund for the annual DNow event, to help support participation by smaller churches of the ACBA who might need additional DNow scholarship for their teens. The Association also requests and receives generous funding from BGCT for the Associational DNow ministry.
[So then, here now are four ministries above which are designed to reach and impact families, living around us, in difficult circumstances: the women and men of Job Corps, children of Hope Camp, clients of ABA Social Ministries (some of whom are single parents), and participants of DNow – these ministries are not just providing a service but impacting individuals for the mission of Jesus, and enhancing opportunities for ACBA churches to connect with neighbors].
Big Country Baptist Assembly: our local Baptist Encampment, available for special events, retreats, and teaching events, and host for Christian summer camping experiences for children, teens, and adults. Over the past 3 years, the camp has seen many improvements to its facilities. The food is always good. The staff is great, attempting to accommodate your group and purpose as best as they are able. Their desire is to make each experience a potentially life-altering one.
The Director of Missions is a member of the Board of the BCBA.
Included in the Associational budget is monthly financial support for BCBA, and funds from the LL Trott Offering for Associational Missions is also allocated for this ministry.
A few years ago, I (Larry) was a reluctant sponsor at BCBA for 2 preteen boys from our church (an ACBA member). I was reluctant because it was not on my calendar; but when the Youth Minister (the scheduled sponsor) abruptly resigned, as Pastor I was the most logical choice for sponsor (I could adapt my schedule). At BCBA, my group of 2 grew to 7, as I agreed to sponsor 5 boys from nearby Lueders. Unknown to me, these 5 preteen boys had a reputation: “The Thugs of Lueders.” It was an interesting few days (and nights!), but when it was over they all excitedly asked if I would sponsor them next year. And, they were so excited to see me in Lueders afterwards, when I hand delivered to each a Teen Action Bible.
SOME AMAZING THINGS CAN TAKE PLACE AT BIG COUNTRY BAPTIST ASSEMBLY – like opening up hearts for further ministry.
Eunice Chambless Hospitality House: Visiting loved ones who are incarcerated can be a very tiring, intimidating, and embarrassing trip to make. Standing in line in front of the Prison Unit, being processed, walking through those large security gates, being searched, then escorted by guards to the visitation area are all intimidating personal experiences. However, being able to stay, free of charge, at the EC Hospitality House, across the street from the prison, is an encouraging experience. The ECHH offers a non-judgmental, welcoming, and comfortable place for families arriving for a weekend visit, and is a breath of fresh air for spouses, parents, and children of those incarcerated.
The Director of Missions serves on the Board of Directors of the ECHH.
On occasion, guards escort inmates to the ECHH for some needed repairs, yard work, etc. Inmates have skills and connecting such skills with needs of the HH is a way that Directors Tim and Yogi Christesson make contact with inmates, offering Christian encouragement.
There are times when the Security Guards are ministered to at the ECHH. Specifically, when there is ice on the road – the Christessons offer the House to Security Guards for overnight stays.
The Association budget includes monthly support for this ministry, and some funds from the LL Trott Offering are also distributed here.
Prison Ministry: this ACBA ministry has evolved since 2017, and most recently we have focused upon bringing encouragement and words of thanks to Security Guards and employees of the Prisons (sponsoring churches are highlighted at each event). In response to receiving BBQ and a pat on the back, one Guard told me, “This is so nice. Ours is a ‘thankless’ job, and it is encouraging for someone to say ‘Thank You!’”
Lend a Hand Ministry: LAH is a connecting opportunity for churches of the ACBA, to make contact and a contribution into the lives of neighbors who might not have a church home. A referral usually comes to the ACBA from the City of Abilene, Code Enforcement, about an individual who needs help with a project for which he/she has no family, resources, or church home who might assist (referrals have also come from Adult Protective Services, 211, and local, non-profit agencies). The Director of Missions meets the citizen, surveys the project, and connects them with a nearby church of the ACBA who has the personnel to help (we do not ask churches to absorb financial costs for the projects, just to provide people to make the project happen).
Most of the referrals are from economically distressed areas of town, which means that the nearby ACBA church may not have the personnel to assist. In such cases, attempts are made to create a team of two churches, or two sources of assistance, maintaining the connection of the citizen with a nearby ACBA church.
This is a radically different approach to evangelism and missions – establishing a church connection through meeting neighbors on their ‘turf,’ and offering a ministry of assistance with their home, via the City. This assistance potentially evolves into spiritual conversations and life-changing impact. However, for this to be effective, the participating church must follow up with the citizen and establish an ongoing, trusting relationship.
Most of those we assist are senior citizens, widows, with no family to help. Some have felt abandoned, and some feel helpless.
Since April of 2019, over 75 projects of helping neighbors have been completed by nearly 20 ACBA churches: large, small, and medium sized congregations, plus a variety of contractors and groups from Hardin-Simmons and Dyess Air Force Base, and offers of help from the Boy Scouts of America.
In 2022, churches of the ACBA have assisted with 7 projects for their neighbors, including the assembly of a wheelchair ramp for one of our smaller congregations.
[The church is not called to isolate itself from its community. We are called to infiltrate. Lend a Hand is one way through which churches might establish contact with neighbors, nurturing friendships and trust, and make inroads for further ministry into their lives]
For the ministries listed above, not only does the ACBA sponsor and financially support these ministries, we also attempt to keep these ‘in front of’ churches, encouraging support and volunteer participation.
Supporting Churches through Ministry Staff of the ACBA
Ministry Assistant:
The Ministry Assistant receives an enormous amount of information from churches and ministry organizations, and distributes this information to churches and individuals of the ACBA. Through The Key, emails, post cards, phone calls and letters, she keeps the ACBA information highway moving.
The Ministry Assistant receives and distributes offerings of support from individuals, organizations, and churches – whether designated for the ACBA or designated for the various ministries supported by the ACBA: ABA Social Ministries, EC Hospitality House, CWJC, and Big Country Baptist Assembly.
The Ministry Assistant assembles and prints documents for Board meetings for ABA Social Ministry, EC Hospitality House, and the ACBA Executive Board Meetings. She sends requests to the Directors of the various missions/ministries of the ACBA for reports for Board meetings and for the annual Rally for His Mission, ensuring that communication and promotion continues between the ministries and the members of the Association.
The MA plans and produces the monthly prayer calendar of the ACBA, and updates the ACBA website for easy access by those of the Association.
Marsha’s job duties expand as Hope Camp approaches. She was out for this year’s Hope Camp, and while HC leaders were in the office hurriedly getting supplies ready, I frequently heard requests for something followed by “Marsha always does this for us.” I did the best that I could in her absence; but her absence was noticeable by Hope Camp leaders!
Director of Missions
As a resource of information: in addition to those roles and activities mentioned above, I am frequently contacted and asked about specific issues of concern.
Connecting with Pastors: It may be difficult to understand this, but being Pastor of a local congregation can be, at times, a very lonely, frustrating, discouraging experience. And what about their families? Only a Pastor’s wife knows what it is like being a Pastor’s wife. Ministry is wonderful, and yet ministry is demanding.
My (Larry’s) most rewarding experiences come when I visit with pastors, face to face, on the phone, in the office, or at a restaurant. We may or may not talk about anything ‘heavy,’ but just being a friend, encourager, and prayer partner for these men means the world to me.
Who does a pastor call when something difficult has happened? I don’t have all the answers, but I can be a sounding board and someone who will walk beside them on this journey. I have had many conversations with pastors who just need a friendly, understanding fellow minister to visit with.
I have answered questions, and redirected inquiries to the appropriate entities, regarding a wide variety of issues, including…
o Legal requirements for churches hosting their own youth camps
o Legal concerns for churches who dismiss certain staff members
o How to establish a retirement plan/funding for church custodian
o How to pastor a church whose leadership is mostly older women
o How to use an empty lot next to the church for parking
o How to lead the church when you have abruptly dismissed staff.
o Many requests for Supply preachers to fill the pulpit – including requests from area churches belonging to different associations.
o Involving convicted felons in church leadership roles
o Responding to an abrupt resignation of their pastor – what now?
o Questions about Deacon Ministry
o Questions about Tax Exempt Status of churches
I remain grateful that pastors, ministers, and church members feel free to call upon me for various questions. I cannot offer legal or CPA advice, but generally can offer an experienced opinion (qualified with “I am not an attorney or CPA!”), and then find answers for them from, and/or connect them with, someone qualified to provide solid advice. I am grateful for the good folks of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, who have been very responsive and helpful to connect me/churches with entities who can answer questions.
Friend, Encourager, and Prayer Partner for Pastors: As mentioned above, being Pastor can be a wonderful experience, yet it is a demanding one. Of all the roles which I fill, this one brings me fulfillment: Pastors experience wonderful things – I rejoice with them; Pastors also experience bewildering and discouraging circumstances – I hurt with them. The key for me is to be ‘with them,’ walking beside them in this journey of ministry. I know how lonely Pastoring a church, of any size, can be. Ministry impacts one’s family, self-image, and confidence.
Being with Pastors and Ministers while attending gatherings offers the opportunity for me to nurture my friendships and trust.
Meeting individually affords special opportunities of friendship. I am careful to avoid intruding into their time, mostly waiting for an invitation from them to meet and visit. However, I do try to maintain contact via phone, email, and texting, and I am always eager to meet face-to-face.
During COVID Pandemic, and maintaining contact with pastors, I became aware of bi-vocational pastors who were struggling to make ends meet for their families. I contacted ABA Social Ministries and City Light Ministries (FBC Abilene), and they packed large boxes of food, which I delivered to these Pastors. And not just pastors, but during that time some church members could not work and needed assistance. One day there were several boxes of food at the ACBA office, awaiting a pastor who would deliver the food to members of his church. This would not happen without being a presence in pastors’ lives, maintaining friendships which lead to trusting me enough to alert me about the dilemmas they faced.
There is an ACBA designated fund, The Bentley Fund, which has been used to occasionally supplement a pastor and his family facing economic hardship. Just to pay a bill can bring relief, hope, and encouragement for a struggling pastor (and his family). I am grateful for those who established this fund to assist pastors in their ministry, and I am grateful that as I become aware of needs, the ACBA has the resources to assist.
The Face of the Association: For many in our churches, the Director of Missions is “the face” of the various ministries supported by the ACBA. I (Larry) appreciate the opportunities to promote and praise the great mission efforts supported by the churches of the ACBA. Thus, I have a role of keeping the Association Mission efforts before the member-churches, and reminding churches of the impact they are making through these ministries.
Preaching Ministry: I am occasionally asked to preach at our member churches. I always take the opportunity to affirm the missions and ministries of the ACBA, affirm the church, and preach about personal participation in the Mission of Jesus.
Presence in the Community: Through ministries such as Lend a Hand, I am in contact with city officials and leaders in our community. I also attend, when I am able, other ministry gatherings of pastors and churches – which may or may not be associated with the ACBA. Through these and other encounters, I seek to be attentive to needs within our communities. This helps to position me to become better aware of needs, and gives me the opportunity to connect needs in the community to strengths of our churches – thus providing opportunities to enhance the ministry presence and impact of ACBA churches.
About three years ago, a retired missionary with the International Mission Board was introducing me to an acquaintance at an associational gathering. Describing what he did on the foreign mission field, he stated that he “did there what the Director of Missions does here locally.”
The Resource Center of the Abilene-Callahan Baptist Association
· Temporarily housing of ministries and new church starts
A couple of years ago, when they were in transition, the Christian Women’s Job Corps of Abilene moved their offices into the ACBA location. We were very glad to be able to offer the space, on the north end of our facility, to house the office of this ministry.
Since 2017, there have been 2 new church starts located in the ACBA Resource Center. For a couple of years an African refugee church met in our assembly room, the Evangelical Redeemed Church, Pastor Vincent Ebemgo (from Congo; bi-vocational Pastor and night Security Guard at Middleton). Earlier this year they located a facility more suited for their growing congregation.
Immediately after the refugee church moved out, an Hispanic congregation moved in: Verdades de Amor, Pastor Jose Flores (bi-vocational pastor), an impressively spiritually mature group of believers who had outgrown the home in which they were meeting.
There is a men’s Bible Study group which meets on Thursday evenings at the Resource Center.
·Storage: The Resource Center houses…
Various historical documents of associational churches, ministries of the Association, and assorted legal documents. Additionally, we have donated Baptist hymnals, church training materials, and many books which have been donated for churches/ministers who might utilize them.
We have a room wherein we store items (many items!) for Hope Camp: Bibles, writing materials, toiletries, sleeping bags, arts and crafts, clothing, and shoes (some HC kids come with very little to take care of themselves, and are grateful for items given to them by churches of the ACBA).
We also store items for the Hope Camp Golf Tournament.
We are a dropping off place for clothing donations, mostly by family members who have lost a loved one. Some items we take to donate to the Christian Service Center, Salvation Army, Love and Care, and Goodwill. Some of the suits we keep on hand for one of our Pastors of a refugee church, who maintains a cooperative ministry in Rwanda and takes suit clothes there for pastors (Rest for the Nations).
A Meeting Place: In the Assembly room, we host meetings for:
Pastors and ministers,
Board meetings for ABA Social Ministries and Eunice Chambless Hospitality House, and Executive Board meetings of Big Country Baptist Assembly.
We also host meetings of the Retired Missionary Fellowship.
We gladly host other meetings upon request.
“An Association of Local Baptist Churches: Why do we do that?”
The Abilene-Callahan Baptist Association (ACBA) is a partnership of cooperating Baptist Churches, combining resources and volunteers in order to address various needs of folks in the cities, communities, and rural areas of Taylor, Callahan, and Southern Jones Counties. The ACBA exists to assist churches in nurturing engagement in the mission of Jesus.
These listings of various ministries of the ACBA, then, are just some of the reasons we join and support the local, cooperative mission/ministry efforts of the Abilene-Callahan Baptist Association.
If we can be of assistance with engaging your church in the mission of Jesus, please contact us!